Demand for skills linked to AI agents has surged across Europe, prompting a significant shift in how companies hire freelance talent [1].
This trend indicates a broadening of artificial intelligence integration. While AI was once the domain of specialized tech firms, the current demand suggests that businesses across all industries are now racing to incorporate these tools into their core operations.
Vincent Huguet, the CEO of freelance marketplace Malt, discussed the shift during VivaTech 2026 in Paris [1]. Huguet said the need for AI talent is spreading beyond the traditional tech sector, reshaping the future of work as companies seek agile ways to implement agentic AI.
The surge in demand reflects a transition from general AI use to the deployment of AI agents. Unlike standard chatbots, these agents are designed to execute complex tasks autonomously, requiring a specific set of technical and strategic skills from the freelance workforce [2].
Huguet said that the European market is seeing a rapid evolution in the types of contracts being signed. Companies are increasingly relying on independent experts to bridge the gap between existing legacy systems and new AI capabilities [3].
The event, held in June 2026 [1], highlighted the acceleration of this labor trend. As more firms move away from internal development in favor of specialized freelance consultants, the freelance economy is becoming a primary engine for AI adoption across the continent [1].
“Demand for skills linked to AI agents has surged across Europe”
The shift toward hiring freelance AI agent specialists suggests that enterprises are prioritizing speed and flexibility over long-term internal staffing. By leveraging the freelance market, companies can integrate cutting-edge AI agents without the overhead of permanent hires, potentially accelerating the pace of digital transformation across non-tech industries in Europe.
